CAIRO: Over the past few months a number of vegan travelers have been impressed by the ease at which eating vegan in Egypt can be so simple and easy. Almost all point to one of the main staples of any Egyptian diet: koshary. “This is just one of those dishes that has everything we need for a hearty meal,” said one traveler. They were so impressed by koshary that day after day they headed to a local shop to partake in one of the most fulfilling, and vegan, dishes Egypt has to offer. But was is koshary? It consists of a base of rice, brown lentils, chickpeas, pasta and a topping of Egyptian garlic and vinegar sauce as well as tomato sauce. Fried onions, additional chickpeas and a spicy tomato sauce can be added on top to make it a fun and exciting meal. Koshary is almost always a vegan dish, so for the vegans traveling to Egypt, look no further than the corner for a quick, easy and cheap meal that fulfills all the demands of a cruelty-free diet lifestyle. Some commentators point to the vegan diet of Coptic Christians in the country during their fast periods as a possible reason for the dish's existence. But it is enjoyed by both Muslim and Christian alike on a daily basis. With meat prices soaring in the country and a growing vegetarian society in Egypt, koshary has proven to be the choice option for many Egyptians and foreigners alike. Koshary is one of the most popular, inexpensive, and common dishes in Egypt, and many restaurants specialize in this one dish. A word of warning however, koshary costs around $1 at any of the hundreds of shops across Cairo, so don't go to a fancy upscale place and order the meal for an exorbitant amount of money. It isn't worth it and doesn't make sense. Enjoy koshary on your next trip, think vegetarian and go vegan! BM
